Windshield cleaner



May 21, 1929. R. L. PARKS WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Aug. 20, 1927 atto: um?

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Patented May 2l, 1929.

RANDALL L. PARKS, l' COLE CAMP, MISSOURI.

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'Application -led August 20, 1927. Serial No. 214,266.

This invention relates. to means for repelling or removing moisture in the form of ew, or snow, and the like from the windshields of vehicles or from any transparent shield or protecting pane whose transparenc is impaired by t e accumulation of such eposits of moisturethereon. 'lhe purpose of this invention is to provide a slmple moisture` repelling device that mayr be conveniently applied to the w1ndsh1eld. Another ob'ect is the provision of 'such a device that will have no moving parts. Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the device as it appears when applied p to a windshield, certain parts being broken to show portions in the section;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same;

' Figure 3 is a view of the side of the device that 1s presented to the windshield, a portion being broken away to reveal other portions concealed thereby; and

Figure 4 is a transverse central sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 2. A bracket l is attached by means of bolts 2 to the frame 3 of the windshield pane 4. Bracket 1 forms the butt of al hinge and presents curled rojections or eyes 5 that straddle the curled) projection or eye 6 of the strap 7, preferably formed as part of the hollow arm 8, a pin 9 passing through the eyes 5 and 6 to connect-pivotally the butt and strap portions of the hinge. A plate or sheet 10 is interposed between the bracket 1 and the frame 3 and underlies a roove 11 that is formed in the underside of t e bracket 1 to receive and guide a flat spring 12 whose other end is attached by a screw 13 to the underside of the arm 8. The free end 14 of arm 8 is a solid continuation of the anterior side of the intermediate hollow portion of the arm, and is elevation and others in slotted at '15 from front to rear to receive loosely a 1u 16 that projects forwardly of the -intermedlate portion of an arcuate-shaped link 17,' whose rear ends 18 straddlea cupshaped casing 19, and are pivotally connected thereto by pins 20, that pass through openings therefor in the ends 18 and casing 19 and whose fend 14, and

ends 21 are bifurcated and spread in o posite directions against the inner side \'of t e casing' 19. A pin 22 passes through transverse holes in the lug 16 and the slotted end 14, the pinpiitting loosely in lug 16 so as to permit a slight universal movement of the lug thereon, and being externally s crewthreaded at one end to fit the internally screwthreaded transverse hole in one side 23 of the. having its other end slotted for the application thereto of a screw driver and entering the transverse hole in the other side Y 24 of the end 14 in unthreaded relation thereto. vSpring 12 normally tends to straighten and thereby to ur e the casing 19 toward the pane 4 through te intervention of the arm Sand the link 17.' l

A Acup-shaped gasket 25 lines the interior of the casing 19 and is clam ed thereagainst by a plate 26, that is `preferably provided with a cylindrical flange 27 to maintain the cylindrical flange 28 of the asket 25 against the cylindrical flange 29A o? casing 19. Gasket flange 28 preferably extends a suitable distance beyond the casin 19 and is adapted to bear on the pane 4 to orm a cu -shaped in- 'closure whose mouth is thus close by the pane 4. `Web 30' of casing 19 and web 31,0f gasket 25 are apertured centrally to accommodate a cylindrical shell 32 that is formed integral with the plate 26 and rises'from the margin of a central aperture therein. The interior side of shell 32 is provided with an annular groove 33 and a pair of diametrically opposed grooves 34 that extend longitudinally from the groove 33 to the inner end of the shell. A cylindrical plug 35 of suitable refractory insulating material is seated in the shell 32, and the end of the plug that faces the pane 4 is recessed or depressed centrally at 36 to receive a coil 37 of resistance wire, one end of which passes through a central opening 38 in the plug and is connected to the metal tip 39 that closes the opposite end of the opening 38, and the otherv end of which passes throu h an eccentrically disposed opening 40 in sai plug and is connected to a metal band 41 that passes around the plug 35 and is suit-i Y resents a pair ably aflixed thereto. Band 41 of diametrically opposed protu erances 42 on its outer face that are adapted to ride in the grooves 33 and 34. Plug 35 is inserted inthe shell 32 by presenting it thereto so that protuberances 42 are alined with grooves 34, and then pushing itin until the protuberances 42 in grooves 34 reach groove 33, a slight turn of the plug then rotating the. protuberances 42 out of alinement with the grooves 34 and thereby preventing the plug from being retracted until the plug is turned again to bring the`protuberances 42 into alinement with the grooves 34. A cylindrical plug 43 of suitable insulating material is disposed in the shell 32 behind the plug 35 and is urged into engagement with plug by a compressible coil spring 44 that intermediates the end wall 45 of shell 32 and a flange 46 on the plug 43. Plug 43 bears a metal center 47 that is engaged by the tip 39 and that is connected to one insulated Wire or lead 48 of-a flexible cord 49,: that passes through a hole 50 in the wall lof shell 32 and up into the free end of arm 8 and therethrough until it emerges at the other end of the arm, from whence it passes to any suitable vsource of electrical energy through suitable switches or controlling devices (not shown). The 'other insulated wire or lead 51 is connected to the spring 44, from whence' the current passes through shell 32 and band 41 to heating coil 37. Plug 35 projects beyond plate 26; and the coil-bearing recess 36 in the projected end is covered by a metal disc 52 that extends radially to the gasket flange 28.y A gasket or layer 53 of heat-insulating material is interposed between the plate 52 and the plate 26,

I2 the several layers of plates and gaskets being clamped. together by, means of screws 54 that pass in unthreaded relation through openings therefor in the gaskets and in the plates 26 and 52 and that screw into tapped openings therefor in the web 30 of casing 19. The concentratedheat from the coil 37 enters the disc 52 and is diffused through the latter over a large area,'from which it is imparted to the pane 4 by radiation and by convection of the air inclosed in thespace between the plate 52 and the pane 4. The concentration of a high degree of heat on a small area of the glass pane 4 might resultin the cracking of the glass; and the positioning of the coil 37 in spaced relation to the panev 4, and the heat diusing effect of plate 52 tend to prevent such an occurrence. Plate 52 is preferably dished or concave on the side thereof that faces the pane 4, so that the marginal portions of the plate, which are cooler than the central portion thereof, are disposed closer to the pane 4 than the said central portion, thereby varymg theair gap between the disc 52 and'pane 4 to compensate for the unequal heating of the disc and thereby to ei'ect uniform distribution of heat from the plate tothe pane. The heating of the pane in this manner drives'oi" all deposits of moistirr'e, dew, rain,

snow, frost, or sleet therefrom land so prevents the vlsion of the ,.dr'iver from being obscured thereby.

The parts that need not be of insulating material are preferably formed of brass or steel, and the gaskets 31 and 53 are preferably formed of sheet asbestos It will observed "outer portions thereof.

pivotal connection ofthe casing 19 to the arm' 18 allows the casing to be turned toffurther facilitate such inspection and the like. Furthermore, the universal movement permitted' by the loose connection of lug 16 to arm 8, and the other pivotal connections insure that the edge of the flange 28 willbe'automatically accommodated to the pane 4 when spring 12 holds the heating device against the pane.

LHaving thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts,

as it is evident that many minor changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of this invention or 'the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A heating device for lthe purpose set forth comprising a cup-shaped casing,.a gasket adapted to fit therein so that vits edge extends beyond the edge of the casing, a plate within the casing for clamping the gasket against the wall of the casing, a heat diffusing plate supported in the casing in retracted relation tothe plane of the gasket edge, heat insulating material intercalating said plates,

and an.electrically heated element disposed behind the heat diffusing plate.

2. A heating device for the purpose set forth comprising a cup-shaped cover, an electrically heated element disposed within the cover, and a heat-distributing plate disposed transversely in the mouth of said cover and adapted to be heated by the said element.

forth comprisingA a housing presenting an open side, an electrically heated element disposedcentrally within the housing, and a heat distributing plate within the housing adjacent and substantially parallel to the open side, and having its central portion heated by said element, the said plate.presenting a concave exterior face to equalize the radiation from the unequally heated cent-ral and 4. A heating device for the purpose set forth comprising a cupshaped casing, a gasket adapted to fit therein so that its edge extends beyond the edge of the casing, a plate 3. A heating device for the purpose set within the casing for clamping the gasket i against the wall of the casing, a heat diffusing plate supported in the casing in retracted relation to and substantially parallel to the plane of the gasket edge and presenting a concave exterior face, heat insulating material intercalating said plates, and an electrically; heated element disposed centrally behindthe heat-diffusing plate.

5. A heatingdevice for the purpose set forth comprising a cup-shaped casing, a gasket adapted to fit therein sq that its edge exdiiusing plate supported in the first-named casing in retracted relation to and substantially parallel to the plane of the gasket edge and presenting a concave exterior face, heat insulatin material intercalating said plates, and an e ectriealllyl7 heated element disposed 10 centrally behind t e heat-diiusing plate and positioned within the casing associated with said plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

RANDALL L. PARKS. y 

